stocky
Well-known member
there have been alot of good points made on buying those cows. you can pay way too much at any sale for a cow, dont get caught up in the bidding. right now is probably the most dangerous time we have ever seen to invest a whole lot of money in cows---dont go for the fanciest or prettiest looking cow. buy cows that will raise good calves because you said you sell at the stockyards---the calf is where your return is. very few registered cows will produce calves the size and frame that a good crossbred cow will---crossbred vigor is important in selling feeders.
if you go to the sales barn, make sure you look at the cows in the pen before they sell, find out the owner and see if he brought culls or his whole group. compare the ones you want to the rest he brought in. at a farm sale, dont buy on what the auctioneer says----they are only words and he is paid to get a higher price.
i have done very well cows with large calves that are bred back. this way you can see what the cows raise and then you can sell the calves and have a cow more reasonably priced. when she is suckled down, she wont bring the premium that the slick ones will---but you will have a better cow.
remember, at a special sale or special farm sale, the cows look better than they ever will again. buy from a whole herd sellout---you get the real deal, then.
as far as the two cows in the pictures, i dont believe the charlois gives enough milk, but 1100 would be cheap for that pair in my area. the hereford looks like she has the milk to raise a huge calf, but she is gaunt and she has milk, so, to me, she looks like she has just had a large calf pulled off of her. that is the stage that is good to buy to get the best calf raisers for the best price
if you go to the sales barn, make sure you look at the cows in the pen before they sell, find out the owner and see if he brought culls or his whole group. compare the ones you want to the rest he brought in. at a farm sale, dont buy on what the auctioneer says----they are only words and he is paid to get a higher price.
i have done very well cows with large calves that are bred back. this way you can see what the cows raise and then you can sell the calves and have a cow more reasonably priced. when she is suckled down, she wont bring the premium that the slick ones will---but you will have a better cow.
remember, at a special sale or special farm sale, the cows look better than they ever will again. buy from a whole herd sellout---you get the real deal, then.
as far as the two cows in the pictures, i dont believe the charlois gives enough milk, but 1100 would be cheap for that pair in my area. the hereford looks like she has the milk to raise a huge calf, but she is gaunt and she has milk, so, to me, she looks like she has just had a large calf pulled off of her. that is the stage that is good to buy to get the best calf raisers for the best price